There was a time when we loved a slow burn drama from Maniratnam. These movies had strong characters, lovely music and dialogues that were one liners but with a lot of meaning. Cut to 2025, when people watch reels and get a high every 20-30 seconds, the director tries to stick to his old formula. Sadly the output is outdated. This is the story of don (Kamal) who is betrayed by his trusted accomplices and then comes back to seek his revenge. Kamal has acted well. STR as his adopted son plays his role well. Everyone else disappoints. The biggest problem is the lack of a convincing plot. The characters have been written poorly especially all the lead characters. Trisha’s is the worst of the lot. There are no twists or high moments. Even the one predictable twist that comes towards the end has no purpose. I feel sorry for ARR. the brilliant “Mutha Mazhai” song does not figure in the movie and “Vinveli Nayaka” runs during end credits without any visuals. What a waste. Mani Sur has to reinvent himself to stay relevant. A non entertainer.
